Dolbadern Castle, Llanberris Lake, North Wales 

Curator: John Sell Cotman created this small etching of "Dolbadern Castle, Llanberris Lake, North Wales." Editor: It feels so stark and imposing. The castle looming on the craggy hill really gives a sense of power and isolation. Curator: Cotman, working in the early 19th century, was part of a larger artistic trend romanticizing the British landscape and its history. The Welsh castles, of course, symbolized both power and the long history of conflict between the Welsh and English. Editor: I'm curious about the figures in the foreground. They seem dwarfed by the landscape, almost incidental. It makes me think about how power structures impact individual lives. Curator: Exactly. The placement invites us to consider the social dynamics at play. Who has access to this land, and for what purposes? Editor: It’s a reminder that landscapes are never neutral; they're always imbued with cultural and political meaning. Curator: I think that's why this seemingly simple image resonates. Editor: Absolutely. It provokes conversations about history, power, and our place within the landscape.